MANCHESTER, N.H -- She was reaching out, hoping for a friendly shoulder to cry on, but instead she ended up conferring with a convict.

NewsCenter 5's Jorge Quiroga reported that "Carol" thought she was calling the support group The Good Samaritans. She said she found their number in the Manchester, N.H. telephone book, and called.

"I was very depressed and I didn't want to burden my family. I was just looking for someone to talk to," said Carol.

"I thought maybe I had the wrong number so I paused and said, 'I think I might have the wrong number,' and he said, 'no you don't.' And I said, 'Is this the Samaritans?' and he said, 'Yes this is the Samaritans. This is Michael."

The conversation was helpful, but Carol was surprised when her phone rang the next day and it was Michael calling.

"I was shocked, I thought that was very nice and supportive, but I was surprised, because I didn't quite understand how he got my number," said Carol.

Everything the man Carol spoke with did afterwards -- using Caller ID and calling her back --violates the Samaritans strict policy of confidentiality. And with good reason, Carol learned, because the man was not a Samaritan volunteer at all.

Hardly a do-gooder, Michael Sorrento is a registered sex offender, a convicted Level 3 child molester and served four years in prison.

According to Sorrento's parole officer after NewsCenter 5 informed him of Carol's allegations, Sorrento admitted the whole incident.

"To our knowledge, like you, this is the first time and only time he did this. He is very clear, it was the wrong thing to do," said Chief Parole Officer Dennis Kinnan.

No one knows for sure how many others Sorrento may have duped, and Sorrento was not home to talk about it, and his number has been disconnected.

"He asked me if I thought that God forgave everyone," said Carol.

Before his last phone call Carol had grown suspicious. After asking her out, she claimed Sorrento called again, revealing who he really was.

"I said God forgives those who feel sorry," said Carol. "(He said) 'I am an ex-convict. I have been in jail for four years. I am a sex offender. Do you think he has forgiven me?'"

But how did Carol get to Sorrento in the first place? A NewsCenter 5 investigation revealed that Sorrento's telephone number was incorrectly listed as the Good Samaritans in several telephone directories.

"It's the worst possible scenario, absolute worst possible scenario. The man is a convicted felon," said Richard Paquin of the Good Samaritans of South Central New Hampshire.

Sorrento could now face a parole violation for his actions, but Carol said she's already been violated.

"I was completely taken advantage of. I was lied to, my personal life was exposed, and as far as I was concerned, I didn't invite this man with this history into my life. I didn't want any of these consequences. I just wanted some help," said Carol.

Although it is not a crime to impersonate a Good Samaritan, Sorrento may be charged with violating parole if it turns out he lied to his parole officer about doing it.